Director of College Access Programs

University of Southern Indiana • Evansville, IN

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

This is a grant-funded position through August 31, 2030. The Director of College Access Programs provides strategic, administrative, and operational leadership for the institution’s college access and student success initiatives, with responsibilities equally divided between TRIO Programs and the Pathways to USI program. The Director is responsible for the effective development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of programs designed to increase college access, retention, persistence, completion, career readiness, and post-graduation success for students who may experience financial, academic, social, or other barriers to higher education. The position provides leadership for program personnel, student support services, outreach and recruitment activities, grant and institutional compliance, fiscal management, assessment, reporting, partnerships, and long-term program development. The Director works collaboratively with academic and student affairs units, faculty, staff, community partners, and other campus stakeholders to strengthen institutional pathways to higher education and student success. The position serves as a senior representative for TRIO and Pathways initiatives and is responsible for ensuring that program activities align with applicable federal, state, institutional, and grant requirements, as well as the University’s strategic priorities. This is a 50/50 shared position, with the employee’s assigned effort, responsibilities, and salary allocation divided equally between TRIO Programs and Pathways to USI. The position is expected to coordinate activities across both programs where appropriate and beneficial to student success; however, effort and responsibilities must remain appropriately attributable to the respective program for purposes of budgeting, personnel allocation, grant administration, effort reporting, and institutional accountability. The Director will maintain appropriate documentation of work performed for each program and will ensure that activities, expenditures, and personnel effort are consistent with applicable funding requirements, approved budgets, University policies, and program objectives. This 50/50 allocation may be reviewed and adjusted through the University’s established budget, position management, and approval processes as programmatic needs and funding structures evolve.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in higher education, student affairs, counseling, education, social sciences, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience working with students who have financial need and/or face academic, social, geographic, or other barriers to postsecondary access and success.
• Demonstrated experience in program administration, student services, college access, retention, advising, TRIO, or a related student success environment.
• Strong knowledge of higher education systems, student development, college access, retention, and persistence strategies.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional policies applicable to college access and student support programs.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, develop, and evaluate professional and student employees.
• Demonstrated experience with budget development, fiscal oversight, and resource management.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to analyze data, evaluate program outcomes, and use information to make informed administrative decisions.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with students, families, faculty, staff, administrators, schools, community organizations, and external partners.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, projects, and funding requirements.
• Demonstrated commitment to access, equity, student success, and serving students from historically underserved and/or financially limited backgrounds.
• Proficiency with standard office technology, data systems, student information systems, and Microsoft Office or comparable productivity software.
• Ability to work effectively in a professional office and higher education environment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in person, by telephone, electronically, and through written correspondence.
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and collaborating effectively with others.
• Ability to manage confidential student, personnel, financial, and program information appropriately.
• Ability to use computers, standard office equipment, and applicable University software and data systems.
• Ability to review, interpret, analyze, and prepare reports, budgets, policies, and other program documentation.
• Ability to attend meetings, conferences, training sessions, outreach events, and other University or community activities.
• Ability to occasionally work outside of normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, is based on program needs and institutional events.
• Ability to travel locally, regionally, and nationally as required for program activities, professional development, recruitment, conferences, meetings, and institutional business.
• Ability to maintain effective performance while managing multiple programs, deadlines, responsibilities, and competing priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience directing or administering a federally funded TRIO program.
• Experience working with grant-funded programs and federal grant compliance.
• Experience developing and managing college access or student success initiatives.
• Experience working with secondary schools, community colleges, community organizations, or other college access partners.
• Experience with institutional assessment, program evaluation, and data-informed decision-making.
• Experience working with students from low-income, first-generation, or other historically underserved populations.
• Knowledge of federal TRIO regulations and U.S. Department of Education reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, vision, and direction for TRIO and Pathways to USI programming.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive college access and student success strategies.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide professional development for program staff, graduate assistants, student employees, and other personnel as assigned.
• Establish program goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and performance expectations.
• Ensure effective coordination of services and avoid unnecessary duplication of student support across programs and campus units.
• Develop and maintain systems that support consistent, equitable, and student-centered delivery of services.
• Represent TRIO and Pathways programs on university committees, task forces, and institutional initiatives as assigned.
• Lead initiatives designed to increase access to higher education among students from underserved and/or financially limited backgrounds.
• Develop and maintain relationships with students, families, schools, community organizations, and campus partners.
• Promote a comprehensive approach to student success that addresses academic, financial, career, retention initiatives and other barriers to persistence and completion.
• Monitor student outcomes and use data to identify opportunities for intervention and program improvement.
• Ensure that students receive appropriate referrals to institutional and community resources.
• Oversee individualized coaching and support services focused on student engagement, self-efficacy, wellness, and academic success.
• Collaborate with academic advisors, faculty, student affairs staff, and campus partners to coordinate holistic student support.
• Provide leadership and oversight for applicable TRIO program activities and objectives.
• Ensure program services, eligibility practices, documentation, expenditures, and reporting comply with applicable federal regulations, grant requirements, and University policies.
• Oversee required program reporting, documentation, assessment, and grant-related records.
• Monitor progress toward federally established program objectives and performance measures.
• Participate in grant development, continuation applications, budget development, and other activities necessary to maintain program funding.
• Maintain appropriate communication with federal, state, and institutional stakeholders regarding program operations and compliance.
• Provide leadership for the Pathways to USI college access and student success initiative.
• Supervise professional staff, student employees, mentors, and program volunteers.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets and resources.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, grant requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Build partnerships with local middle schools, high schools, community organizations, and educational stakeholders.
• Coordinate campus visits experiences, recruitment events, and college readiness programs.
• Promote awareness of Pathways opportunities among prospective students, families, and community partners.
• Provide vision, planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of the PSSI curriculum and student experience.
• Ensure the program reflects best practices in summer bridge, first-year transition, and student success programming.
• Design evidence-based interventions that address barriers commonly faced by first-year students, including academic preparedness, time management, financial challenges, social adjustment, and college navigation.
• Facilitate workshops focused on academic readiness, learning strategies, information literacy, test preparation, and effective study habits.
• Oversee implementation of study tables and structured academic support services throughout the program.
• Support students in successfully navigating the transition from high school to college expectations and culture.
• Develop, monitor, and reconcile program budgets in accordance with university, grant, and funding requirements.
• Ensure expenditures are allowable, reasonable, properly documented, and aligned with approved program purposes.
• Participate in annual budget development and long-range financial planning.
• Identify opportunities to maximize available resources and leverage institutional and external partnerships.
• Coordinate with appropriate University offices regarding purchasing, payroll, contracts, grants, and financial reporting.
• Establish assessment processes to evaluate program effectiveness and student outcomes.
• Analyze enrollment, retention, persistence, completion, and other relevant data to inform program decisions.
• Prepare internal, institutional, and grant-related reports as required.
• Maintain accurate and secure program records and documentation.
• Monitor compliance with applicable federal regulations, grant requirements, University policies, and institutional procedures.
• Implement corrective actions and process improvements when necessary.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the appropriate supervisor or University leadership.
• Maintain professional knowledge through continuing education, professional development, conferences, and engagement with current practices in higher education and college access.

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, vision, life and short term and long-term disability insurance plans.
• Full tuition fee waiver for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
• Vacation and sick time
• Holiday pay
• Free access to Recreation, Fitness & Wellness Center.
• Access to on-campus University Health Center and Dental Hygiene Clinic.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director